‘Ministers have presided over this growing scandal, which I have been highlighting for over two years, and yet this Labour Government have failed to use this 60th anniversary of the NHS to address it.

‘Nutrition is central to health and dignity – how many more patients must suffer at the hands

of this inept Government?’ The Mail has highlighted the lack of help given to frail patients to eat hospital food as part of its Dignity For The Elderly campaign.

And last year, a survey by the Healthcare Commission found that one in five frail and elderly patients complained they did not have enough help when eating.

Half of nurses said there were not enough staff to help those who needed it to eat and drink.

Age Concern says 60 per cent of older patients, who occupy two-thirds of general hospital beds, are at risk of worsening health or becoming malnourished. The over-80s are particularly at risk.

Patrick Smith, from the charity, said: ‘A missed meal in hospital is just as much of a risk to patient safety as missing medication for a patient’s recovery.

These figures show NHS staff are concerned that people are not receiving good nutritional care in hospital.

‘Not only do a significant number of older people arrive in hospital already malnourished, but six out of ten are at risk of becoming malnourished, or their situation getting worse, while they are there.

‘If we are to tackle the scourge of malnutrition among older people, all NHS trusts must commit to making nutrition a top priority.’

The Government last year launched a bid to improve hospital food, after Mr Lewis admitted many elderly patients were effectively being starved in hospitals.

Dr Kevin Cleary, medical director of the NPSA, an NHS agency, said a ‘growth in incident reporting’ helps prevent similar occurrences.

‘We recognise that good nutrition and hydration is essential for the recovery of patients. And we support clinicians with guidance to ensure that learning from reported incidents is provided.’